| First Author | Chao X | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | Hepatology | Volume | 78 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 503-517 |
| PubMed ID | 36999531 | Mgi Jnum | J:339555 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7515024 | Doi | 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000373 |
| Citation | Chao X, et al. (2023) Persistent mTORC1 activation due to loss of liver tuberous sclerosis complex 1 promotes liver injury in alcoholic hepatitis. Hepatology 78(2):503-517 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate the role and mechanisms of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1) and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in alcohol-associated liver disease. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Liver-specific Tsc1 knockout (L- Tsc1 KO) mice and their matched wild-type mice were subjected to Gao-binge alcohol. Human alcoholic hepatitis (AH) samples were also used for immunohistochemistry staining, western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) analysis. Human AH and Gao-binge alcohol-fed mice had decreased hepatic TSC1 and increased mTORC1 activation. Gao-binge alcohol markedly increased liver/body weight ratio and serum alanine aminotransferase levels in L- Tsc1 KO mice compared with Gao-binge alcohol-fed wild-type mice. Results from immunohistochemistry staining, western blot, and q-PCR analysis revealed that human AH and Gao-binge alcohol-fed L- Tsc1 KO mouse livers had significantly increased hepatic progenitor cells, macrophages, and neutrophils but decreased HNF4alpha-positive cells. Gao-binge alcohol-fed L- Tsc1 KO mice also developed severe inflammation and liver fibrosis. Deleting Tsc1 in cholangiocytes but not in hepatocytes promoted cholangiocyte proliferation and aggravated alcohol-induced ductular reactions, fibrosis, inflammation, and liver injury. Pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 partially reversed hepatomegaly, ductular reaction, fibrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and liver injury in alcohol-fed L- Tsc1 KO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that persistent activation of mTORC1 due to the loss of cholangiocyte TSC1 promotes liver cell repopulation, ductular reaction, inflammation, fibrosis, and liver injury in Gao-binge alcohol-fed L- Tsc1 KO mice, which phenocopy the pathogenesis of human AH. |
